Stephen Donnelly
Question:62. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health when he anticipates a full reversal of new entrant pay disparity for consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41265/19]
View answerThursday, 10 October 2019
Questions (62)
Written answers
The Public Sector Pay Commission in its Report published in September 2018 identified difficulties in attracting consultant applications for many posts at present and acknowledged that the pay rates for new entrants had been highlighted as a factor in this. The Commission proposed that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement jointly consider what measures could be taken, over time, to address the pay differential.
Following on from the Report of the Commission, I recently published the De Buitléir Report. This Group was established to examine how to give effect to the Sláintecare recommendation on the removal of private practice from the public hospital system. To achieve this objective it recommends pay parity being confined to those who would take up a Sláintecare Type A contract, i.e. the contract that only allows holders engage in public practice. It stated that implementation of this approach would result in a phased reduction in private practice as the proportion of consultants with contracts allowing them engage in private practice would decline over time.
In publishing the De Buitléir Report I noted that I would be consulting with key stakeholders on its recommendations. Arrangements are being progressed in relation to engaging with the consultants representative bodies on progressing Sláintecare, the De Buitléir Report and the Report of the Public Service Pay Commission. A meeting with the IMO is due to take place next week.